Lockproof flower pots



Oct. 7, 1958 R. EQHARTUNG 2,854,790

.LOCKPROOF FLOWER POTS Filed July 26, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 n M M a M my M Q d m M m Oct. 7, 1958 R. E. HARTUNG 2,854,790

LOCKPROOF FLOWER POTS Filed July 26, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VENTOR.

fliahara E. Harlung BY :stabilized, and great weight,

features of the invention are more particularly States vPater This invention relates to flower pots, in general. More particularly, the invention has reference to a flower pot construction so designed as to permit nesting of a plurality of identically formed pots.

Flower pots, as conventionally formed of clay or similar .materials, are, of course, adapted to be nested one Within another to form a stack of the pots.

However, the

particular thickness of the flower pots, the weight thereof and the tendency of the pots to rotate relative to one another when tested, detracts from the ease with which they may be handled. Accordingly, carry a stack of the pots in nested relation must generally :hold the stack with both hands at the bottom. This, of

one attempting to course, means that the upper portion of the stack is not particularly since the stack may be of the stack may overturn. If one were to hold the stack with one hand at the bottom and use the other hand to steady the upper end of the stack, it bee comes difl'icult to carry the stack when it is of substantial weight.

Further, in these circumstances, the stack may twist between its ends due to the fact that the pots can rotate relative to one another.

Accordingly, an important object is to provide flower pots which are very light in relation to their capacity, said pots being formed of relatively thin, molded plastic ma- -terial.

. Another object is to. provide pots so designed that a .large number thereof may be nested while still keeping --the overall length of the stack comparatively short.

Another object is to form the pots in such a way that when stacked they cannot rotate relative to one another,

so that the stack may be grasped at both ends and easily transported.

A further object is to utilize, as means for preventing rotation of one pot relative to the next adjacent pot, boti Another object is to incorporate a dual function in the drain openings of the pot, by utilizing said openings as means engaging depending flanges of the next higher pot of the stack when the pots are nested.

A further object is to provide novelly formed flower pots having the benefits described above while still keeping the cost thereof to a very low figure.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel set forth. In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a view of a pair of nested flower pots, partially in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section, according tothe present invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the nested pots shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through the lower portions of the nested flower pots, taken substantially on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a still further enlarged, detail sectional view through one of thesupport lugs of a flower pot according to the invention, taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 3. p

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary longitudinal sectional view, the scale being between that of Figs. 3 and 4, through one of the support lugs of a flower pot according to the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a bottom of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through a plurality of nested flower pots, showing a modified construction.

Fig. 8 is a bottom of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view, substantially on line 9-9 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is an exploded perspectiveview, on a scale slightly below that of Fig. 1, showing a pair of the mating flower pots, one of the flower pots being illustrated only fragmentarily.

Referring to the drawings in detail, in Figs. 1-6 the flower pots formed according to the present inventionhave been generally designated at 10. Since they are identical the description of one will s'ufilce for both. Although only two flower pots are illustrated, it will be understood that, of course, the flower pots can be nested in any desired number, the nesting characteristics being well illustrated, however, with only two flower pots.

Each flower pot includes a frusto-conical, downwardly tapering body 12, having a flat bottom wall 14 lying wholly in a plane perpendicular to the long axis of the body, said bottom wall 14 being formed with diametrically opposed, circular drain openings 16 set inwardly a short distance from the periphery of the lower extremity of body 12.

The side wall of body 12 is continued a short distance beyond the plane of bottom wall 14, providing at the lower end of the body a support flange 18 interrupted at intervals angularly spaced apart by downwardly opening, shallow recesses 20 forming apertures through which water may flow, when the flower pot is supported upon a support surface S. Thus, Water is free to drain out of the pots through the openings 16, and is adapted to flow below bottom wall 14, through recesses 21). Similarly, the plant can be watered by setting the pot in a pan of water, so that the water will flow inwardly through the recesses 20 and then upwardly through the openings 16.

At its upper end, the body 12 is formed with an upwardly directed, outwardly offset, frusto-conical top flange 22, increasing the cross-sectional area of the body substantially at the upper end thereof, this being, of course, conventional flower pot design and not constituting, per se, part of the present invention.

Integrally formed upon the inner surfaces of side walls of body 12, at the lower end of the body, are uniformly angularly spaced, longitudinally extending, elongated, downwardly tapering support lugs 24 having flat top surfaces 26 disposed in a common plane parallel to the plane of bottom wall 14. Any number of lugs can be used. However, as the illustrated example shows to best advantage in Fig. 2, three support lugs are provided, angularly spaced apart circumferentially of body 12. At their lower ends, lugs 24 merge into the side wall of body 12 substantially at the periphery of bottom wall 14, that is, there is practically no projection of the lugs radially inwardly from the side walls 12 upon the surplan view of the nested flower pots plan view of one of the flower pots 3. face of bottom wall '14, at the lower extremities of the lugs.

In use, a plurality of the pots can be nested, and each pot, when seated in the pot next below, will be supported at its bottom upon'the lugs 24 of said next lower pot. In this connection, openings 23 have a dual function. Not only do they permit flow of water below bottom wall 14, but also, they define downwardly opening recesses or notches, receiving the upper ends of thesupport lugs of the next lower pot as shown in Fig. '3. Therefore, each pot is held against any more than a very small amount of rotational movement in respect to the pot next below the same, the rotational movement of each pot in respect to the next lower pot being limited, of course, only by the length of each recess in respect to the thickness of the upper end of the associated support lug. in a commercial embodiment, each recess may be of a width substantially matching that of the support lug, so that the pots will be held completely against rotation relative .to one another. nested pots against relative rotation may be clearly appreciated, when it is considered that as many as ten or fifteen pots may be nested, and carried from one place to another, by a user holding the stack at the upper and lower ends thereof. If the pots were free to turn relative to one another, they may tend to begin rotational movement to a slight degree as they are being carried,

causing one to lose control of the same.

Another desirable characteristic, of course, resides in the fact that each part is molded entirely from thin plastic material, at a very low cost, and is of extreme lightness in respect to its capacity. At the same time, however, each pot is effectively reinforced at its lower end by the support lugs, and when the pots are stacked one upon another, the support lugs constitute, in effect, continuous, vertically extending brace rods angularly spaced about the circumferences of the nested pots. Due tothe holding of the pots against relative rotation, all the support lugs are in longitudinal alignment with each other as shown in Fig. 3, in a typical working embodiment illustrated in the drawing.

In Figs. 740, a modified construction is shown, wherein each pot has been generally designated at 28. Each pot includes a downwardly tapering, frustoconical side wall 30, molded integrally at its lower end with a flat bottom wall 32 lying in a plane normal to the length of the body. At its upper end, body Bil is integral with a continuous, outwardly ofiset, upwardly flaring top flange 34.

In this form of the invention, bottom wall 32 is formed with diametrically opposite, elongated, arcuate openings 36 of slot-like form each of which extends through slightly less than 90. Openings 36 are concentric with bottom wall 32, and are spaced inwardly a short distance from the periphery of the bottom wall.

Alternating with the openings 36 circumferentially of bottom wall 32 are support legs 33. These are extended downwardly from bottom wall 32 and are integral with the bottom wall. Legs 3.8 are curved transversely, on a radius equal to that about which the openings 36 curve, that is, the legs as seen in Fig. 8 and the openings 36 are all arranged as components of the same circle. At their upper or inner ends, that is, the ends of the legs integrally secured to the bottom walls 32, the legs in width extend through 90". However, the legs have downwardly convergent side edges it), so that at their lower ends, the legs are extended through substantially less than 90, and in fact, are extended through substantially less than the angular distance through which the slot-like openings 36 extend.

As a result, each leg 38 is cxtendible downwardly through an opening 36 of the next lower pot, and after extension through said openings 36 a short distance, will bind within the opening, as soon as the progressively increasing width of the leg equals the length of the slot-like The desirability of holding the opening 36. This is shown to particular advantage in Fig. 7. Each pot has a pair of the openings .36 and .a pair of the legs 38. Therefore, the lowermost pot will be supported in elevated position above a support surface S by its legs 38. Then, the next pot may be nested in the lowermost pot, and is turned in respect to the lowermost pot, so that the legs of the upper pot are engageable in the openings 36 of the lowermost pot, as shown in Fig. 7. Then, the next higher pot is turned 90 in relation to the one into which it is to be fitted, so that its will engage in the openings 36 of the pot immediately below the same.

This arrangement is continued as long as desired, until the stack of nested pots has been build up to the desired length. It will be seen that the arrangement is one which holds each pot against any rotational movement in respect to the pots above and below the same. Further, each pot is so supported in respect to the pot into which it nests as not to exert-any spreading action against the side wall of the body of the next lower pot, thus carrying out one of the main objects of the invention, which is to permit the nesting without causing the pots to stick to one another, and without causing cracking of the pots resulting from the wedge-like or spreading action which each pot would tend to have upon the pot next below the same.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what ,I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States "Letters Patcut is:

l. A nestable flower pot comprising an upwardlyopening, receptacle-forming body including a downwardly tapering side wall and a bottom wall, and means on thebody engageable with a second, identically formed flower pot in which the body of the first pot is nestable, said means limiting movement of the first pot into the second pot, thus to nest the pots without imposition of excessive pressure by the side wall of the first pot against the side wall of the second pot, said means comprising a plurality of angularly spaced support legs depending from the bottom wall to provide spacers holding the bottom wall in an elevated position above the support surface for free circulation of water below the bottom wall, said bottom wall being formed with drain openings angularly spaced correspondingly to the legs, for engagement of the legs of the first pot in the drain openings of thesecond pot.

2. A nestable flower pot comprising an upwardly opening, receptacle-forming body including a downwardly tapering side wall and a bottom wall, and means on the body engageable with a second, identically formed flower pot in which the body of the first pot is nestable, said means limiting movement of the first pot into the second pot, thus to nest the pots without imposition of excessive pressure by the side wall of the first pot against theside wall of the second pot, said means comprising a plurality of angularly spaced support legs depending from the bottom wall to provide spacers holding the bottom wall in an elevated position above the support surface for free circulation of water below the bottom wall, said bottom wall being formed with drain openings angularly spaced correspondingly to the legs, for engagement of the legs of the first pot in the drain openings of the second pot, said legs tapering in a downward direction and being of a width intermediate their ends corresponding to the length of the respective openings, for binding of the legs in the openings at locations intermediate opposite ends of the legs.

3. A nestable flower pot comprising an upwardly opening, receptacle-forming body including a downwardly tapering side wall and a bottom wall, and means on the body engageable with a second, identically formed flower pot in which the body of the first pot is nestable, said means limiting movement of the first pot into the second pot, thus to nest the pots without imposition of excessive pressure by the side wall of the first pot against the side wall of the second pot, said means comprising a plurality of angularly spaced support legs depending from the bottom wall to provide spacers holding the bottom wall in an elevated position above the support surface for free circulation of water below the bottom wall, said bottom wall being formed with drain openings angularly spaced correspondingly to the legs, for engagement of the legs of the first pot in the drain openings of the second pot, said legs tapering in a downward direction and being of a width intermediate their ends corresponding to the length of the respective openings, for binding of the legs in the openings at locations intermediate opposite ends of the legs, said legs being curved about the center of the bottom wall, the openings being of elongated slot-like formation and being correspondingly curved.

4. A nestable flower pot comprising an upwardly opening, receptacle-forming body including a downwardly tapering side wall and a bottom wall, and means on the body engageable with a second, identically formed flower pot in which the body of the first pot is nestable, said means limiting movement of the first pot into the second pot, thus to nest the pots without imposition of excessive pressure by the side wall of the first pot against the side wall of the second pot, said means comprising a plurality of angularly spaced support legs depending from the bottom wall to provide spacers holding the bottom wall in an elevated position above the support surface for free circulation of water below the bottom wall, said bottom wall being formed with drain openings angularly spaced correspondingly to the legs, for engagement of the legs of the first pot in the drain openings of the second pot, said legs tapering in a downward direction and being of a width intermediate their ends corresponding to the length of the respective openings, for binding of the legs in the openings at locations intermediate opposite ends of the legs, said legs being curved about the center of the bottom wall, the openings being of elongated slot-like formation and being correspondingly curved, the several legs and openings being curved upon the same radius.

5. A nestable flower pot comprising an upwardly opening, receptacle-forming body including a downwardly tapering side wall and a bottom wall, and means on the body engageable with a second, identically formed flower pot in which the body of the first pot is nestable, said means limiting movement of the first pot into the second pot, thus to nest the pots without imposition of excessive pressure by the side wall of the first pot against the side wall of the second pot, said means comprising a plurality of angularly spaced support legs depending from the bottom wall to provide spacers holding the bottom wall in an elevated position above the support surface for free circulation of water below the bottom wall, said bottom wall being formed with drain openings angularly spaced correspondingly to the legs, for engagement of the legs of the first pot in the drain openings of the second pot, said legs tapering in a downward direction and being of a width intermediate their ends corresponding to the length of the respective openings, for binding of the legs in the openings at locations intermediate opposite ends of the legs, said legs being curved about the center of the bottom wall, the openings being of elongated slot-like formation and being correspondingly curved, the several legs and openings being curved upon the same radius, the openings of each pot terminating at their ends in closely spaced relation to the bases of the legs of the same pot.

6. A nestable flower pot comprising an upwardly opening, receptacle-forming body including a downwardly tapering side wall and a bottom wall, and means on the body engageable with a second, identically formed flower pot in which the body of the first pot is nestable, said means limiting movement of the first pot into the second pot, thus to nest the pots without imposition of excessive pressure by the side wall of the first pot against the side wall of the second pot, said means comprising a plurality of angularly spaced support legs depending from the bottom wall to provide spacers holding the bottom wall in an elevated position above the support surface for free circulation of water below the bottom wall, said bottom wall being formed with drain openings angularly spaced correspondingly to the legs, for engagement of the legs of the first pot in the drain openings of the second pot, said legs tapering in a downward direction and being of a width intermediate their ends corresponding to the length of the respective openings, for binding of the legs in the openings at locations intermediate opposite ends of the legs, said legs being curved about the center of the bottom wall, the openings being of elongated slot-like formation and being correspondingly curved, the several legs and openings being curved upon the same radius, the openings of each pot terminating at their ends in closely spaced relation to the bases each pot including a pair of said legs and a pair of said openings, the legs of each pair being in diametrically opposed relation.

7. A nestable flower pot comprising an upwardly opening, receptacle-forming body including a downwardly tapering side wall and a bottom wall, and means on the body engageable with a second, identically formed flower pot in which the body of the first pot is nestable, said means limiting movement of the first pot into the second pot, thus to nest the pots without imposition of excessive pressure by the side wall of the first pot against the side wall of the second pot, said means comprising a plurality of angularly spaced support legs depending from the bottom wall to provide spacers holding the bottom wall in an elevated position above the support surface for free circulation of water below the bottom wall, said bottom wall being formed with drain openings angularly spaced correspondingly to the legs, for engagement of the legs of the first pot in the drain openings of the second pot, said legs tapering in a downward direction and being of a width intermediate their ends corresponding to the length of the respective openings, for binding of the legs in the openings at locations intermediate opposite ends of the legs, said legs being curved about the center of the bottom wall, the openings being of elongated slot-like formation and being correspondingly curved, the several legs and openings being curved upon the same radius, the openings of each pot terminating at their ends in closely spaced relation to the bases of the legs of the same pot, each pot including a pair of said legs and a pair of said openings, the legs of each pair being in diametrically opposed relation, the openings of each pair also being diametrically opposed and being in alternating relation to the legs of the same pot.

References Cited in the file of this patent of the legs of the same pot, 

